FPN08-28

Science Chair Calls for ARPA-E

May 22, 2008

Bart Gordon (D-TN), chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, praised the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on the occasion of its 50th anniversary for its "contributions to civilian breakthroughs, like the Internet" and said, "it is time we take the DARPA model and apply it to the most pressing challenge we face today: energy."

Congress authorized the formation of an ARPA-E within the Department of Energy, but the Administration did not request funds for it in the FY 2009 budget submission and has taken no steps to establish it. Efforts are underway in Congress to earmark funds for ARPA-E during the FY 2009 appropriations process. Unfortunately, in this Presidential election year, most observors think that Congress will not pass appropriations bills until after the November elections.

The Senate Appropriations Committee, meanwhile, has marked up an emergency war spending bill and added $55 M for ITER for FY 2008. The bill must be merged with a similar bill from the House. However, President Bush has threatened to veto any such bill that provides money for programs other than the war in Iraq.